Cut flower packaging

ABSTRACT

A packaging apparatus for cut flowers includes an elongated body having a closed base and an upper portion with an open top that extends from the base. The base serves as a reservoir for water and supports the apparatus an upright orientation. Strips of flexible material are secured to the top of the upper portion of the body and function as handles. In operation, the apparatus is filled with water and one or more flowers. The water assists in forcing the body into a generally cylindrical shape having a flat bottom and also functions as a weight that further supports the body in its upright orientation. The cut portions of the stems of the flowers thus have the advantage of being positioned in a reservoir of water during later transportation and the upper portion provides space to safely accommodate the stem, leaves and petal portions of the flower(s).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/534,257, filed Jan. 5, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns packaging for cut flowers or similar plants. More particularly, the invention concerns a bag, container, holder or the like for cut flowers has a lower severally cylindrical portion or base which fans out to an upper portion to an opening at the top. The lower portion is operable to retain an amount of fluid (i.e., a reservoir) and remain in an upright or otherwise substantially vertical (i.e., free standing) orientation.

2. Reference to Related Art

Cut flowers and similar plants are typically wrapped in paper wrapping for delivery to a customer at the point of sale. The flowers are removed from water and paper wrapping is rolled around the flowers or formed into a cone-shaped sleeve covering the flowers and stems. When the flowers are wrapped, they are deprived of water until placed in a vase by a customer. Notably though, even a short deprivation of water will hasten the degradation of the flowers. It is also known to ship flowers in a glass vase filled with water. However, this is costly and both the flowers and the vase are then wrapped in paper.

Included among the prior art efforts to package cut flowers and plants is U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,782 to Landau, which is directed to an Improved Cover for Potted Plants. In Landau, a cover provides a watertight seal at its base while at the same time protecting the plant from contact with water leaking out of the plant. The cover is in the form of a flat, tear-away bag that customers of florists and plant nurseries can use themselves without assistance.

A second notable reference is U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,290 to Matyja, which is directed to an Expandable Bag. Specifically, the Matyja patent describes a flexible bag having a tapered body with a closed bottom that is narrower than the top of the body. The bag has a handle and a folding portion that couples the body to the handle. The handle includes two handle halves that are separable to open the bag. The bag is movable from a flat position in which the holding portion is folded to an expanded unfolded position in response to the weight of objects to be carried.

Another reference is U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,982 to Van Wingerden, which is directed to a Floral Bouquet Bag. More particularly, Van Wingerden discusses a bag sleeve that provides a protective packaging for a floral bouquet while also providing a convenient way to pick up and carry the bouquet. The bag sleeve has a shield portion that defines a bouquet receiving space that made of a rigid paper layer and a water-resistant layer attached to the paper layer. At least one handle is attached to a blossom end of the shield portion. A water-resistant base portion extends from a stern end of the shield portion, wherein the base portion has an opening that permits stems of the floral bouquet to protrude from the bag sleeve.

A final reference is U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2056410 to Illovy, which is directed to a Flower Transporting Container. The Illovy application discloses a container for transporting cut flowers that includes a tapering flexible bag formed of sheet plastics material and is provided with handles. The bag is formed by folding a sheet of polythene about a fold line and securing the overlying sheets together by welds. In use, a small quantity of water is put into the bag to form a reservoir into which the stems of the flowers extend.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an easy to use and affordable packaging for the cut flowers that preserves the flowers during the transportation, has a body that is at least partially water impermeable so that it may retain an amount of fluid and can remain in an upright or otherwise substantially vertical (i.e., free standing) orientation when not in use or when holding a cut flower(s) or plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A packaging apparatus, bag, container, holder or the like for cut flowers is disclosed that is operable to retain a reservoir of fluid and remain in an upright or otherwise substantially vertical (i.e., free standing) orientation. The packaging includes a collapsible, generally elongated body. The body has closed base, an upper portion that extends up from the base and has an open end and a handle.

The base is generally cylindrical has a pair of gussets, a flat bottom and can hold an amount of fluid, such that the base may function as a reservoir for a cut flower or plant.

The upper portion of the body flares upwardly from the base and includes a front panel and a rear panel that are secured together along two edges. The panels provide the apparatus with open top. Indicia (such as logos or other advertising) may also be print on the outside of the each panel.

The handles of the apparatus are fashioned from strips of flexible material that are formed into an inverted U and secured to the upper portion of the body of the apparatus proximate the open top.

In operation, the fluid (e.g., water) in the base can urge open the front panel and rear panel and gussets so that the body takes on a generally cylindrical shape having a flat bottom. Cut flowers or similar plants are then placed (stems down) in the apparatus. The fluid in the base functions to further support the body in a substantially vertical orientation. Accordingly, the cut plants have the advantage of being positioned in a reservoir of water while during transport. Further, the fanned upper portion of the apparatus provides the cut flowers with ample space to accommodate the stem, leaves and petal portions of the flower(s).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Reference will now be made to the attached figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a packaging apparatus for cut flowers constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the packaging apparatus for cut flowers shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a packaging apparatus 10 for cut flowers F. As shown, the apparatus 10 includes a body 12 having a closed base 14 and an upper portion 16 that extends from the base 14. The upper portion 16 has an open top 18 and the base 14 is operable to function as a reservoir for a fluid 19 (e.g., water, or solution of water and plant food) to thereby assist in the apparatus 10 in remaining in an upright or otherwise substantially vertical (i.e., free standing) orientation. One or more strips of flexible material 20 are formed into an inverted U and secured to the upper portion proximate the top 18 to function as handles for carrying the apparatus 10. Further, this application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/534,257, filed Jan. 5, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 12 is formed from a unitary web of flexible material that is impervious or is otherwise adapted to hold or retain water such as high-density polypropylene, polythene or some other plastic/polymeric film or paper known in the art. Alternatively, the web of flexible material may be constructed as a plastic or polymer laminate having an inside, water impervious layer and an outside layer. As a still further alternative, the body 12 may be formed from separate sheets of the flexible material that is impervious or is otherwise adapted to hold or retain water as described above.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper portion 16 is formed from a front panel 22 and a rear panel 24 that are welded together on along two edges 23, 25 thereof though the use of heat or ultrasonic welding. The upper portion 16 of the body 12 is operable to open up or otherwise fans out cylindrically from the base 12 such that the open top 18 of the upper portion 14 is wider that an interior width of the base 12. The panels 22, 24 of the apparatus 10 may also be imprinted with advertising or other print indicia 27 such as a merchant's contact information, logo or the like. It will be appreciated that this arrangement of the upper portion 16 may provide the upper portion 16 with a generally conical shape that is particularly suitable for retaining a bouquet of flowers F.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 14 includes a pair of gussets 26 that extend from the flat bottom 28 of the base 14 to the side panels 22, 24. Preferably, apparatus 10 is constructed such that the seams 28 of the apparatus extend from the gussets 26 up the sides of the panels 22, 24 such that the apparatus 10 may be collapsed and/or flattened for storage.

In operation, the body 12 of the apparatus 10 may be filled with water and one or more flowers F when a customer purchases the flowers F. Alternatively, the water and flower(s) F may be placed in the apparatus 10 and stored on a shelf until picked up by the customer. The water assists (but is not necessarily required) in forcing the panels 22, 24 and gussets 26 into a generally cylindrical shape having flat bottom 28 so that the apparatus 10 will stand on its base 14 in a generally upright or vertical orientation. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that base 14 of the apparatus 10 provides the cut portions of the stems of the flowers F with a reservoir of water during transport while the fanned upper portion 16 of the apparatus 10 provides those flowers F with ample space to accommodate the stem, leaves and petal portions of the flower(s) F.

A customer transports the apparatus 10 by holding on to the strip(s) of flexible material 20 and using it as a handle(s). After use, the flowers F are removed from the apparatus 10, the water is emptied and the apparatus 10 discarded. Thus is disclosed an inexpensive packaging apparatus that permits cut flowers to be stored in water and easily transported to their final destination.

Having thus described the present invention, it is anticipated that those having skill in the art may be aware of various other embodiments and improvement that do not depart from the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims. 

1. A packaging apparatus for cut flowers and water: a generally elongated body, the body being operable to contain a fluid and including a closed cylindrical base, an upper portion that flares outwardly from the base, the base having a pair of gussets and a bottom, the upper portion defining an open top and including a front panel and a rear panel, whereby the water is contained in the base to help support the packaging in an upright position.
 2. The packaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a strip of flexible material are formed into an inverted U and secured to the upper portion proximate the open top.
 3. The packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper portion further comprises print indicia.
 4. A packaging apparatus for cut flowers comprising: a collapsible, generally elongated body, the body including a closed base, an upper portion that extends from the base and defines an open top and a handle secured to the upper portion proximate the open top, the base having a pair of gussets, a flat bottom and containing an amount of fluid, the upper portion including a front panel and a rear panel, whereby the fluid in the base is operable to urge open the front panel and rear 8 panel and gussets such that the body takes on a generally cylindrical shape and supports the body in a substantially vertical orientation; and
 5. The packaging apparatus of claim 4, wherein the upper portion further comprises print indicia.
 6. A packaging apparatus for cut flowers comprising, in combination: a collapsible, generally elongated body, the body including a closed base, an upper portion that extends from the base and a strip of flexible material, the base having a pair of gussets, a flat bottom and containing an amount of fluid, the upper portion defining an open top and including a front panel, a rear panel and print indicia, the strip of flexible material being formed into an inverted U and secured to the upper portion proximate the open top, the fluid in the base being operable to urge open the front panel and rear panel and gussets and into a generally cylindrical shape and support the body in a substantially vertical orientation; and a flower having a stem and a petal portion, the stem having a cut end that is positioned in the fluid in base of the body. 